Mayo woman inches ever closer to becoming the first ever Irish person to go into space

Ballina native Dr. Norah Patten has been picked to take part in a unique scientist-astronaut training programme in Florida

By Fiona Ellis

6th October 2017, 8:28 pm

Updated: 6th October 2017, 8:28 pm

AN Irish woman is one small step away from becoming the country’s first ever person in space.

Intergalactic fan Dr. Norah Patten from Ballina in Mayo has been chosen as one of 12 participants from around the world selected to take part in a unique scientist-astronaut training programme in Florida.

The 34-year-old headed stateside on Thursday to start training with Project PoSSUM.

PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere) is designed to teach candidates the skills required to effectively conduct research on the next generation of space vehicles.

It’s been a lifelong dream of Norah’s to shoot for the stars, ever since she visited NASA on a family holiday aged 11.

Norah said: “I’ve met many astronauts over the years and I am aware this is a long road. But I have spent my life focused on this goal of getting to space and for me, the journey has always been as important as the destination.”

Norah is one of 12 people from around the world selected to be taught the skills required to effectively conduct research on the next generation of space vehicles

And she can’t wait to learn skills she hopes to one day put into practice in space.

She said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me to learn hands on skills, to experience what it is actually like to operate in a pressurised spacesuit, and to feel the g-forces on my body that are experienced during a rocket launch. I really cannot wait.”

From that initial trip to NASA Norah’s set her sights on intergalactic travel and has never let go of that passion; designing rockets for her junior certificate art project, visiting NASA on numerous occasions as a teenager, and strategically selecting to study Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Limerick.

Since then, Norah has gone on to obtain her PhD in Aeronautical Engineering, she is currently a faculty member at the International Space University and has participated in many space related professional development programs over the years.

In 2014 Norah managed ‘The Only Way is Up’ project which sent Ireland’s first student experiment to the International Space Station.

The Mayo native has dreamed about going into space from the age of 11 when she visited NASA while on holidays with her family

Having a keen interest in education and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), Norah has also founded her own company, Planet Zebunar, which is launching a new series of STEM products designed to encourage, inspire and motivate the next generation of engineers, astronauts, scientists and innovators.

If she ever achieves her dream of jetting off to a universe far, far, away Norah said she has a litany of things she’d like to bring.

She explained: “A camera I would definitely bring, because I’d say the views would be unbelievable.

"I’d also love to engage the public and I’ve done a lot of outreach and so I would bring something created by someone Irish to represent them. The last thing I’d bring is Astro Granny one of the characters in Planet Zebunar.”

And she added that she’s been overwhelmed with support from the public ahead of her once-in-a-lifetime trip saying: “I feel totally ecstatic that so many people are behind me and the journey that I’ve been on for the past 20 odd years.”